• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Another Newbie!

K

kyliewww

Newbie
Messages
4
Been looking at the forum for some time just having a read through. Certainly lots of information here!

A little history (if you are interested) When initially diagnosed with Type 2 (some 6 years back now) I was very heavy. I gave up smoking and managed to lose some 5 st over the next 2 years. However, I couldn't seem to do much with my blood average readings so to be honest, I gave up. Simply ignored everyone's advice... After doing this for a little while (!!) I plucked up the courage to go see my GP and he referred me to a Diabetic Specialist Team. All they do is 'diabetes'. The service is excellent but I have landed in the big wide world of now being on insulin! But, for the first time in, well, I can't remember, I've had a whole day of glucose readings of less than 9! Did make me feel quite ill at times :wink:

Anyway, please don't shoot me down for the way in which I've been leading my life. I do read on here sometimes and I know that some of you can't be quite blunt with what you say. I know that I'm still vastly overweight but I would like to say that I've now turned a corner and thanks to the support of my Wife and Medical team (go NHS!), should start seeing some positive results.

So, what am I looking for on this forum? Firstly, advice on what to do when you forget to bring any insulin with you (yeah, today! Left my life in a bag at home and I'm 60 miles from that bag) and to be inspired by all the questions, answers and hopefully, help some others. You never quite know! :thumbup:
 
Hi Kylie and welcome to the forum :)
I am certainly not going to shoot you down, rather congratulate you for the progress you have made so far - giving up smoking and losing 5 stone is a great achievement. This is the right place to come to gain the knowledge you need to make even more progress. This is some information that we give to new members - maybe you will find some of this helpful. Ask all the questions you like and some experienced insulin users will be able to help you.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS


Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find well over 30,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes ... rains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please sign our e-petition for free testing for all type 2's; here's the link:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/petition/

Do get your friends and colleagues to sign as well.
Click to expand...
 
Hi :wave:

You've done REALLY well to lose 5 st and give up smoking, both great achievements! You'll get lots of advice and help here so fire away with any questions.

Ann
 
kyliewww said:
Been looking at the forum for some time just having a read through. Certainly lots of information here!

A little history (if you are interested) When initially diagnosed with Type 2 (some 6 years back now) I was very heavy. I gave up smoking and managed to lose some 5 st over the next 2 years. However, I couldn't seem to do much with my blood average readings so to be honest, I gave up. Simply ignored everyone's advice... After doing this for a little while (!!) I plucked up the courage to go see my GP and he referred me to a Diabetic Specialist Team. All they do is 'diabetes'. The service is excellent but I have landed in the big wide world of now being on insulin! But, for the first time in, well, I can't remember, I've had a whole day of glucose readings of less than 9! Did make me feel quite ill at times :wink:

Anyway, please don't shoot me down for the way in which I've been leading my life. I do read on here sometimes and I know that some of you can't be quite blunt with what you say. I know that I'm still vastly overweight but I would like to say that I've now turned a corner and thanks to the support of my Wife and Medical team (go NHS!), should start seeing some positive results.

So, what am I looking for on this forum? Firstly, advice on what to do when you forget to bring any insulin with you (yeah, today! Left my life in a bag at home and I'm 60 miles from that bag) and to be inspired by all the questions, answers and hopefully, help some others. You never quite know! :thumbup:
Click to expand...

A big hello and welcome to you. You have done really well by changing your lifestyle and coming to terms with a better and healthier life a head :thumbup: I'm sure its hard for a lot of people to admit that they led an unhealthy life. Dont worry about people who are blunt, just tell them where to go or just ignore them, as they're not worth your time :wink: I'm sure some type 2's will be along with some helpful expertise advice, regarding forgetting your insulin, as I am type 1. Take care and best wishes :D
 
Hi Kylie and welcome. Brilliant what you've done! :clap: :clap: :clap:
 
I too have been having a look at this forum, i was diagnosed type 2 September 2007 and after being put on an emergency diet, metformin and statins, i managed after a year to reduce my weight by 4 and half stone and come off all medication, so effectively diet controlled. However, i have always been non acceptance that i have diabetes and after diet controlling for a couple of years thought 'nah they got it wrong, I'm not diabetic' - how wrong was i, just had my yearly check up and although my cholesterol is 4.1 liver and kidney function ok my sugars have risen to 8.3. My lovely diabetic nurse was going to put me back on metformin but i have convinced her to give me 3 months to at least bring my weight down thus helping my higher than normal blood pressure and high sugars. She knows i have dieted before so i can do this...... i am now revamping my whole lifestyle as this is what i need to change, i am on a very healthy eating plan - I'm following a slimming world plan but being careful with too much fruit and not too many carbs oh and trimming down the salt - i love salt!!! and reading cartons galour on sugar contents. I am really looking forward to fitting into my lovely clothes that are stored away due to weight gain and although still 3 months away are really looking forward to getting my bloods checks again. Think its about time i accepted i am a diabetic and learnt to treat it with the respect it deserves
 
Back
Top